Fraser's Hill

One of the trickiest birds to find at Fraser’s Hill is Malayan Whistling-thrush so we were in position at our stake-out before daylight and were rewarded for our patience with prolonged views of a bird feeding at the edge of the forest. With new birdsong all around us it was extremely exciting to be finally able to see Silver-eared Mesia, Mountain Fulvetta, Mountain Bulbul, Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo, numerous Streaked Spiderhunters, and a showy Streaked Wren-babbler. A cracking Fire-tufted Barbet then appeared and we followed this up with the common Long-tailed Sibia and Orange-bellied Leafbird. After breakfast we set off on a long walk along one of the trails and began this session with a Javan Cuckooshrike demolishing a Cicada on the roof of a nearby building and our first Black-and-crimson Oriole, Little Spiderhunter and Little Pied Flycatcher. On entering the trail a Rufous-browed Flycatcher appeared and refused to go away, appearing to have a nest close by. Then a White-throated Fantail was found on a nest, a Large Hawk-cuckoo flew in and in quick succession we had Golden Babbler, Black-eared Shrike-babbler, Grey-throated Babbler, Buff-breasted Babbler, Large Niltava, Mountain Tailorbird, Mountain Leaf-warbler, Everett’s White-eye, Chestnut-crowned, Yellow-browed and Arctic Warblers. Once we made it back onto the road we there was a showy Blyth’s (White-browed) Shrike-babbler, along with Mountain Imperial-pigeons and Little Cuckoo-doves flying over a few times. A Mugimaki Flycatcher was very obliging and a Black-throated Sunbird fed on some nearby flowers. A little siesta over lunch enabled some of the group to watch Fire-tufted Barbet, and both Chestnut-capped and Malayan Laughingthrushes at the feeders in the hotel garden. In the afternoon we birded the new road and immediately came across a perched Blyth’s Hawk-eagle, followed by a couple of stunning Long-tailed Broadbills which initially refused to cooperate but then flew in and treated us to prolonged views. At the same spot a Chestnut-backed Scimitar-babbler did the opposite and came in but then simply melted away again. A good run of Brown, Gold-whiskered, Black-browed and Red-throated Barbets followed around a fruiting tree which also held a few Scaly-breasted Bulbuls again. There was also the usual losing battle with Bamboo Woodpecker and a heard only Crimson-winged Woodpecker, but Rufescent Prinia and Orange-bellied Flowerpecker showed well! After dinner we spent quite some time and not surprisingly failing miserably to connect with a very close calling Mountain Scops-owl, but did see Brown Wood-owl and Grey Nightjar.

Buff-breasted Babbler

Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush

Blyth's Hawk-eagle

Long-tailed Broadbill

Rufous-browed Flycatcher

Brown Wood-owl